High-temperature superconductor lead

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-temperature superconductor lead element including a plurality of lengths of high-temperature superconductor electrically connected in a non-collinear configuration, for example, next to and parallel with each other, to increase the thermal length of the lead element. A proximal end of a first of the lengths is configured for thermal connection to a warm thermal element and a distal end of a last of the lengths is configured for thermal connection to a cold thermal element. Each length of high-temperature superconductor includes a high-temperature superconductor plate having an electrically insulative support and a plurality of high-temperature superconductor tapes mounted, in a linear array, on the support. A plurality of high-temperature superconductor plates are arranged with their longitudinal axis parallel to form a cylindrical lead with "bad" self-fields in each plate being substantially cancelled by self-fields in neighboring plates.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A high-temperature superconductor lead element, comprising: a first length of high-temperature superconductor having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being configured for thermal connection to a warm thermal element,   a second length of high-temperature superconductor having a proximal end and a distal end, said second length proximal end being electrically connected to said first length distal end and said second length distal end being configured for thermal connection to a cold thermal element, said second length of high-temperature superconductor being non-collinear with said first length of high-temperature superconductor.   
     
     
       2. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 1 wherein said second length is positioned next to and parallel with said first length, said first length proximal end opposing said second length distal end and said first length distal end opposing said second length proximal end. 
     
     
       3. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 2, wherein "bad" self-fields of said first length oppose "bad" self-fields of said second length. 
     
     
       4. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 2, wherein "good" self-fields of said first length add to "good" self-fields of said second length. 
     
     
       5. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 1 further comprising a third length of high-temperature superconductor, said third length being positioned between said first and second lengths with a first end electrically connected to said first distal end and a second end electrically connected to said second proximal end such that said first and second lengths are electrically connected through said third length, said third length being non-collinear with said first length and non-collinear with said second length. 
     
     
       6. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 5 wherein said third length is positioned next to and parallel with said first length and said second length is positioned next to and parallel with said third length, said first length proximal end opposing said third length second end, said first length distal end opposing said third length first end, said second length proximal end opposing said third length second end, and said second length distal end opposing said third length first end. 
     
     
       7. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 6, wherein "bad" self-fields of said first length and said second length oppose "bad" self-fields of said third length. 
     
     
       8. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 5 wherein each of said first, second, and third lengths comprises a high-temperature superconductor plate having an electrically insulative support, and   a plurality of high-temperature superconductor tapes mounted, in a linear array, on said support.   
     
     
       9. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 8 wherein said superconductor tapes are arranged in a plurality of stacks of one or more tapes per stack. 
     
     
       10. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 9 wherein said first length has more tapes per stack than said second length. 
     
     
       11. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 10 wherein said third length has more tapes per stack than said second length and less tapes per stack than said first length. 
     
     
       12. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 1 wherein said first and second lengths include high-temperature superconductor tapes, said first length having more tapes than said second length. 
     
     
       13. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 12 wherein said first and second lengths comprise stacks of high-temperature superconductor tapes, said first length having more tapes per stack than said second length. 
     
     
       14. A high-temperature superconductor lead element comprising: a plurality of lengths of high-temperature superconductor, said lengths being electrically connected in a non-collinear configuration,   a proximal end of a first of said plurality of lengths being configured for thermal connection to a warm thermal element, and   a distal end of a last of said plurality of lengths being configured for thermal connection to a cold thermal element.   
     
     
       15. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 14 wherein said lengths include a high-temperature superconductor tape, a cross-sectional area of said tape in each length remains the same, or decreases from said first length to said last length, with said last length having a smaller cross-sectional area than said first length. 
     
     
       16. A high-temperature superconductor lead element, comprising: a first length of high-temperature superconductor having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being configured for thermal connection to a warm thermal element,   a second length of high-temperature superconductor having a proximal end and a distal end, said second length proximal end being electrically connected to said first length distal end and said second length distal end being configured for thermal connection to a cold thermal element, said first and second lengths including a high-temperature superconductor tape, said first length tape having a greater cross-sectional area than said second length tape.   
     
     
       17. The high-temperature superconductor lead element of claim 16 wherein said first and second lengths comprise a plurality of high-temperature superconductor tapes, said first length having more tapes than said second length. 
     
     
       18. A high-temperature superconductor lead, comprising: a plurality of high-temperature superconductor plates, each high-temperature superconductor plate defining a longitudinal axis, said high-temperature plates being arranged with their longitudinal axis parallel to form a cylinder, each high-temperature superconductor plate including an electrically insulative support, and a plurality of high-temperature superconductor tapes mounted side-by-side in a linear array on said support.   
     
     
       19. The high-temperature superconductor lead of claim 18, wherein said plates are arranged such that "bad" self-fields are substantially cancelled. 
     
     
       20. A dual high-temperature superconductor lead, comprising: two high-temperature superconductor plates, each high-temperature superconductor plate including an electrically insulative support, and a plurality of high-temperature superconductor tapes mounted side-by-side in a linear array on said support, and   an insulating sheet placed between said high-temperature superconductor plates.   
     
     
       21. A high-temperature superconductor lead element, comprising: a high-temperature superconductor having a first end and a second end, said first end including an end piece configured for thermal connection to a warm thermal element and said second end including an end piece configured for thermal connection to a cold thermal element,   said high-temperature superconductor being configured to take a non-linear route from said first end piece to said second end piece.